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EARLY SOCIETIES OF WEST AFRICA

L E A R N I N G G O A L : I W I L L / W E W IL L I N V E S T I G AT E H OW S O C I E T I E S O F W E S T A F R I C A D E V E L O PE D

A N D G R E W I N TO P OW E R F U L T R AD I N G K I N G D O MS .

EARLY SOCIETIES OF WEST AFRICA • BELL WORK:

– Glue TBQ on Standard 7.16 in your WHIN on page 58. – Read and answer questions

• When you are finished, Make sure this is copied in your WHIN ON PG 57• The different climate regions of West Africa provided people with a

variety of rich resources. – Rivers provided water to grow crops in drier areas. – The land was also a rich source of minerals, especially gold, salt, and iron. – These three resources played a large role in the development of African

cultures.

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INTRODUCTION• Between the years 500-1600 CE, West Africa developed three

significant kingdoms sought of the Sahara Desert: Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.

• Understanding the history of these kingdoms can be difficult because for most of the time historians do not have written records to study.

• Artifacts and geography provide most of our clues about what life was like.

GEOGRAPHY AND TRADE• Underline and label Sahara

in yellow or orange• Underline and label Sahel

in red• Underline and label

savanna in green• Underline and label forest

in purple• Underline and label Niger

River in blue

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GEOGRAPHY AND TRADE QUESTIONS• How do you think geography affected trade in West Africa?

–Due to different types of food growth in different regions of Africa, people had to trade to get things they couldn't produce themselves.

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EARLY COMMUNITIES AND VILLAGES• Color in each of the smallest circles in yellow.

–This represents family-based communities.

–A family based community is a family group primarily consisting of parents and their children.

• These groups often live close to relatives or extended family.

–These extended family groups form villages.

–Color the medium circles green.

EARLY COMMUNITIES AND VILLAGES QUESTIONS•What are some reasons family-based communities joined

together?

–Extended families formed villages to control flooding rivers, to mine for iron and gold, or for protections from raiders.

•Who made the decisions in a family based community?

–One of the male elders probably made decisions for the community.

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOWNS AND CITIES• Color in the largest ovals blue.

–This represents where cities may have formed.

• Now draw a dotted line across the map moving from south to north between the two cities. (see example)

–This represents trade routes.

• Draw a blue line across the southern perimeter of the map. (see example)

–This represents a river.

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOWNS AND CITIES QUESTIONS• How did the ability to work with iron affect food production

and the types of jobs that villagers performed in West Africa?

–With iron tools farmers cleared land and grew crops more efficiently. Larger food production meant larger populations could be supported and people could specialize in jobs that were needed in the community.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOWNS AND CITIES QUESTIONS• How did the location of trade routes affect the development of

cities?

–Villages located along trade routes or near rivers became cities. Tax and trade led to wealth and expansions.

• How did the location of Jenne lead to its becoming a large busy city?

–Jenne was located between the Niger and Bani Rivers. This was ideal for farming, fishing, and trade, allowing it to become a big city.

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THE RISE OF KINGDOMS AND EMPIRES• Color the remaining part of the diagram red.

–This represents a kingdom.

–The kingdom envelopes large cities and nearby villages but not necessarily all villages.

THE RISE OF KINGDOMS AND EMPIRES QUESTIONS• How were trading cities able to develop into kingdoms?

–Rulers of some trading cities taxed goods that were bought and sold in their cities. They used this wealth to raise large armies that conquered nearby trading areas.

• List one advantage and one disadvantage of being part of a kingdom.

–A – Armies made sure trade routes were safe and kept out foreign armies and raiders.

–D– Conquered people had to pay tribute and men had to serve in the army.

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MAIN IDEAS

• 1. Family and religion influenced daily life in early West African society.

• 2. Iron technology changed life in West Africa.

• 3. Trade shaped the history of West Africa.